Many pet lovers consider their furry companions part of the family, but judges in New Jersey say witnessing its violent death is not the same as witnessing a close relative being killed.

The New Jersey state Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that suing for emotional distress is reserved for the deaths of humans, not animals. The ruling concluded a 2007 lawsuit brought by Joyce McDougall, whose 9-year-old maltese-poodle mix was mauled to death by a larger dog in Morris Plains, N.J.

"Although we recognize that many people form close bonds with their pets, we conclude that those bonds do not rise to the level of a close familial relationship or intimate, marital-like bond," Justice Helen Hoens wrote for the court in a 5-0 decision, according to The Star-Ledger.

According to The Wall Street Journal, the "close familial relationship or intimate, marital like bond" standard was established by the New Jersey Supreme Court in a 1980 case called Portee v. Jaffee.

McDougall, a 63-year-old divorced mother of three who lived alone with her dog Angel, sued neighbor Charlot Lamm, the larger dog's owner, for emotional distress and the cost to replace the dog, estimated at $1,395.

McDougall described Angel as a "friendly, lively, energetic dog" that loved children and spent most of the time with her because she did not work outside the home. Her attorney, Lewis Stein, argued that "there is no dispute" that his client suffered emotional distress, as she hasn't bought a new dog, The Star-Ledger said.

Superior Court Judge Robert Brennan awarded McDougall $5,000 to replace the value of the dog, but would not allow her to sue for emotional distress.

Attorney Brian O'Toole, who represented Lamm, said state law allows pet owners to only sue for an economic loss -- not an emotional one. The larger dog, which reportedly attacked another animal in a separate incident, was euthanized after Angel's death.

O'Toole said that if emotional distress lawsuits weren't strictly limited to "intimate, familial relationships," people could sue for emotional distress at losing almost anything.

The Star-Ledger indicated that only courts in Louisiana, Florida and Hawaii have allowed emotional distress or mental anguish or distress cases for pets. Illinois and Tennessee have laws on the books allowing pet owners to recover damages for emotional distress, The Wall Street Journal said.